Bottle carrier



Dec. 26, 1950 G, M, ACTON 2,535,113

BOTTLE CARRIER V Filed March 28, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l mmiiiiia mma-lm' @ra/7% 47.' fon BH s@ @4MM Wwu eis? Gttornegs Dec. 26, 1950 R G. M. AcToN 2,535,113

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Mrch 2B, 1949 2 sheets-snee; 2

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lunventor Gttornegs Patented Dec. 26, 1950 BDTTIIE CARRIER Grant M. Acton, Arkansas City, Kans., assigner to Acton Manufacturing Company, Inc., Arkansas City, Kans., aj corporation of Kansas Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,789

This invention relates to bottle holders and carriers and more particularly to a device for holding and carrying bottles used for beverages such as soft drinks and the like, the principal object of the invention being to lprovide a bottle holder and carrier adapted for use with bottle handling machines such as automatic bottle case unloaders, and for transporting bottles of beverages as when carrying them from retail stores.

The present invention is an improved bottle holder and carrier particularly adapted for use with automatic machines in bottling plants, that is the same use as the structures shown in my copending applications, Serial No. 8,022 filed February 13, 1948; Serial No. 16,032 led March 20, 1948, now Patent No. 2,522,978, September 1950; and Serial bld-34,768 led June 23, 1948-, now Patent No. 2,502,690, dated April 4, 1950.

Further objects Iof the present invention are to provide a carrier of such size and shape that a plurality of same nt in th'eusual wooden'case which is minus the conventional vseparators whereby the bottles need only be removed from the carrier at the bottling plant and in the home for use; to provide debossed panels in the side and `end walls which may carry indicia or the like without said indicia being subjected to wear or abrasion when carriers are moved or placed in side by side position, yet have engagement of the side and end walls with the case and adjacent carriers when placed in a wooden case; to provide a carrier of suitable material and adapted to be formed and assembled'by stamping and pressing operati-ons int-o a reinforced rigid structure capable of continued use in automatic machines and for all transportation, storage and cooling of the bottled `beveragesyto provide an upper bottle divider integral with and in the same plane as the upper edges of the side and end walls to facilitate quick and easy placing and removing of bottles inthe carrier; to provide co-o'perating ribs and bosses in the bottle carrier to separate the bottles and prevent impact of' any portions of :adjacentibottles during transportation or handling of same particularly by automatic'equi'pment; to provide a' carrier and'b'ail structure in which the bail is adapted for engagement with suitable holddowns on automatic .bottle case loaders to transmit pressure to the'bottoin of the carrier during removal .of bottles therefrom, said bail structure being simple and easilyxassembled and .adapted for telescoping into the carrier allowing filled kcarriers to be stacked; to' provide a. rigid seam structure `for connectingthe bottomv and sides of the carrier; to `.provide holes and 5 Claims. (l. E24-48) Cil apertures in the bottom and sides for facilitating cleaning and unloading from automatic unloading machines; and to provide a carrier consisting of relatively few pieces, that is quickly and easily manufactured and assembled into a compact,

sturdy and eflicient device for carrying and holding. beverage bottles in transportation and use with automatic machines in bottling plants.

In accomplishing these and other objects oi the present invention I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms .of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved bottle carrier.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the carrier taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective View of the improved bottle carrier.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through the seam joint connecting the bottom and sides on the line 5 5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view through the upper edge of the carrier end wall and upper divider illustrating the fastenings for same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing-s:

I designates a bottle carrier and holder generally consisting of a body member 2 and a bottom member 3. The body member is cut from a single piece of sheet metal or the like and formed by suitable dies. The central portion of the body member forms a horizontal panel 4 serving as the top spacer of the carrier, said panel being oi suitable size to accommodate the desired number of bottles, the illustrated structure being adapted to receive six bottles, two rows in width and three rows in length, said horizontal panel being cut and formed to provide apertures 5 for receiving said bottles. The edges of the apertures 5 are turned downwardly to form flanges s to provide additional surface contact between the panel and the bottles received therein. The apertures 5 are suitably arranged to provide a space between the flanges 6 of the respective apertures. Portions of the body member at the ends of the panel t are turned downwardly as at 'I substantially tangentially with the end apertures 5 to form flanges 8 and d, said anges being substantially one-half the width of the panel. The flanges 8 and 9 terminate in lower edges l0 and extending from said lower edge and spaced across the anges is a plurality of tangs l l for use in assembling the device as later described.

The body member includes sides I2 and I 3 preferably integral with the panel 4. The flat sheet of which the body member is formed is bent downwardly as at I4 and I5 on longitudinal lines substantially tangential with the outside portion of the apertures 5 to form the side members I2 and I3. Said side members are longer than the panel sides and are bent as at IS-Il and I 8-I9 respectively to form end portions 23, 2l, 22 and 23 which terminate in edges 24 abutting and in alignment With the side edges of the flanges 8 and 9. Integral with and spaced along the edges 24 of the end portions 29, 2l, 22 and 23 is a plurality of tangs 25 for use in assembling the device as later described. The lower edges of the side members I2 and i3 are turned inwardly as at 21 to form ilanges 23 overlying the inner surface of saidside members. The flanges 28 form rounded lower edges on the side members I2 and I3 providing a finished appearance, eliminating sharp edges and stiffening the sides to provide suitable rigidity therein. The flanges 28 preferably are provided with a plurality of spaced openings 29 for facilitating assembly as later described. The lower edges of the side members l2 and I3, midway the length thereof, are provided with an arcuate notch 39, also the ends of the lower edges of the side members i2 and i3 are provided with notches 3l. Flanges 32 on the lower edges of the end portions 29, 2l, 22 and 23 are turned inwardly and folded against the inner surface of said end portions to form a rounded lower edge which is substantially in alignment with the upper edge of the notches 3l, the notches 3D and 3| cooperating to form apertures at the lower portion of the body member' to facilitate passage of water therefrom.

The bottom member 3 is cut from a single piece of sheet metal or the like and formed by suitable dies, said bottom member consisting of a horizontal panel 33 substantially the same size as the panel 4, the side edges of said bottom member being turned upwardly as at 34 to form upwardly extending side members 35, the upper portion of said side members 35 being turned outwardly and downwardly to form flanges 3B adapted to be inserted between the flanges 28 and the side members I2 and I3, the extremities of the flanges 23 and 35 engaging the inner surfaces of the respective bends forming said flanges. The flanges and side members 35 on the sides of the bottom member are substantially coextensive with the flanges 28 on the side members I2 and I3, thereby providing no obstructions extending across the notches 33 and 3| in said side members. The flange 3S may have a plurality of openings in registry with the openings 29 if desired.

The bottom member 3 is bent upwardly as at 31 at the ends of the bottom panel 33 forming upwardly extending end members 38 and 39, the height of said end members being such that the upper edges 45 thereof engage the bottom surface of the panel 4, whereby said end members 38 and 39 are substantially the full height of the body member, which is preferably substantially the same as the inside height of the side walls of a conventional wooden case. The bottom member 3 is notched as at 4I at each of the corners of the panel 33, the location of the notches 4! corresponding to the notches 3| in the side members I2 and I3. The notches 4I form the side edges 42 of the panel 33 adjacent the ends thereof and the side edges, ,43 of the end members 38 and 39 are in alignment with the edges a2, the width of the end members. lie.-

ing greater than the spacing between the edges 24 of the end portions 29, 2|, 22 and 23, whereby said end portions overlie the side edges of the end members 38 and 39. Also the flanges B and 9 overlie the upper portion of said end members. The portions adjacent the side edges and upper edge of the end members 38 and 39 that are overlapped by the end portions 20, 2|, 22 and 23 and the flanges 8 and 9 are provided with inwardly struck portions 44 substantially the same size as the overlapping portions whereby the outer faces of the inwardly struck portions 44 lie against the inner faces of the flanges 8 and 9 and the end portions 20, 2|, 22 and 23 of the side members, and the outer faces of the flanges 8 and 9 and end portions 20, 2|, 22 and 23 are flush with the adjacent outer laces of the end members 38 and 39. The instruck portions 44 are provided with a plurality of spaced slots 45 adjacent the edges II) of the flanges 8 and 9 and the edges 24 of the end portions 2B, 2l, 22 and 23, and in alignment with the tangs on said edges whereby said slots register with the tangs on the end portions of the side members and on the flanges 8 and 9 for assembling the respective parts of the carrier as later described.

Formed in the bottom panel 33 is a plurality of circular embossed portions 46 forming seats for the bottles adapted to be received in the carrier, said embossed portions aligning with the apertures 5 in the panel 4. A rib 41 is arranged on the longitudinal center of the bottom panel 33 and ribs 48 are arranged transversely of the bottom substantially equally spaced from the circular embossed portions. The ribs 41 and 48 are stamped upwardly in the bottom panel 33 during the blanking operation whereby said ribs are positioned between bottles placed in the carrier and prevent the lower part of one bottle contacting another bottle during handling of the carriers. At the points of intersection of the longitudinal and transverse ribs are enlarged portions forming bosses 49 having flattened upper faces adapted to align with the ends of a bail member as later described. Openings 5I) are arranged in the bottom substantially at the center of the embossed portions 46 and apertures 5I are provided in the bottom adjacent the corners formed by the longitudinal and transverse ribs and their ends adjacent the side and end walls, said openings 50 and '5I cooperating with the notches 30, 3| and 4I for facilitating cleaning and drainage of water from the carrier as said carrier is removed from a cooling chamber.

In the carrier illustrated the edges of the apertures 5 are preferably provided with recesses 52fv arranged substantially tangentially of the"4 respective apertures and parallel with the sides and ends of the carrier. This structure provides four recesses for each aperture whereby spring fingers on automatic bottle case loaders may eng-age in said recesses to aid in guiding the bottles in the respective apertures, the recesses being of suitable width to accommodate the width of the fingers.

The carrier is provided with a handle or bail formed of wire or the like of suitable size and stiffness to withstand longitudinal pressure on the members thereof without any bending. The bail consists of a bar member 53, the ends of said bar member being curved downwardly as at 54, the curve being substantially an ogee curve and terminating in downwardly extending vertical members 55, said members 55 being spaced substantially the same as the spacing between the bottle apertures 5 whereby said vertical mem bers are slidably mounted in apertures 56 arranged on the longitudinal center of the panel 4 and are equally spaced from the geometric center of said panel for equal distribution of the weight o n said bail, said apertures 56 also being in vertical alignment with the bosses 48 in the bottom panel 33.

In order to provide additional support for the bail and reinforce the top panel 4, a reinforcing member i51 is secured thereto. Said reinforcing member preferably is formed of sheet metal and consists of a horizontal wall 58 provided with upwardly extending flanges 59 orf suitable size to substantially lie between the flanges 6 of the apertures 5. The flanges 59 are shorter in height than the flanges 6 whereby the wall 58 is parallel with the panel 4 and is arranged above the lower edge of the flanges 6, the edges 6!) being turned inwardly to crimp the reinforcing member in place. The wall 58 of the reinforcing member is provided with apertures 6| in yalignment with the apertures 55 and adapted to slidably mount the vertical members of the bail. The apertures 56 and 6l are of such size that there is sliding engagement between said apertures and the vertical members 55. To provide further support for the vertical members, the panel 4 and the wall 53 are provided with upwardly and downwardly struck portions 62 and 63 respectively substantially conical in shape whereby the apertures 5s and 6I have greater spacing than the panel 4 and the wall 58, this spaced engagement with the vertical members 55 providing adequate support for the bail.

Sleeved over the lower ends of the vertical members 55 are washers 64, said washers being held on the vertical members by deformities 65 at the lower ends of said vertical members 55 whereby the washers 64 are adapted to be moved into engagement with the lower face of the downwardly struck portions Se to support the weight of the bottles and carrier when being carried by the bail. The vertical members 55 are of such length that when the washers 64 are in engagement with the downwardly struck portions 63 of the reinforcing member 5l, the

bar member I53 is above the caps of the bottles to provide sufficient clearance between said caps and the bar member for the insertion of the hand of a perso-n to permit the carrier to be transported without danger of striking the hand or fingers on the tops of said bottles. The relationship of the length of the vertical members and other portions of the carrier is such that when the bail is moved downwardly in telescoped position, the deformed portions 55 of the Vertical members 55 engage the faces of the bosses 4S and the bar 53 of the bail lies below the ends or caps of the bottles. The height of the bosses 49 and the bail is such that when the deformed portions 6 5 engage the bosses 49 the bar member 53 is accurately positioned below the tops of the bottles in the carrier in position for engagement with a suitable device in an automatic bottle case unloader to apply pressure to the bosses 49, holding the carrier down as bottles are removed by the unloading devices in the machine.

In the carrier illustrated the side and end members are preferably provided with debossed panels 66 and 67 respectively to provide surf-aces adapted to carry suitable indicia formed in or applied to said panels, whereby said indicia will lid uit)

not be subjected to wear or abrasion when moving the carriers as when placing a plurality of same in a wooden case.

In assembling a carrier of parts constructed as described, the reinforcing member 5l is arranged between the flanges of the top panel fi with the apertures 5S and 6I in alignment. The lower edges 60 o' the fianges e are then crimped to anchor the reinforcing member in place. The Vertical members 55 of the bail are then inserted into the apertures 56 and 6i and moved therethrough and the washers 64 sleeved over the lower ends of the Vertical members and said lower ends deformed as at 55 to retain the washers 64 thereon. Prior to inserting the bottom member 3, the flanges S and 9 and end portions 2D, 2|, 22 and 23 of the side members extend outwardly at the ends of the body member. This arrangement permits the bottom member 3 to be moved between the side members i2 and i3 whereby the anges 35 on said bottom member may be inserted between the flanges 25 and the side members l2 and i3. The fianges 35, and 28 are then crushed against the side members I2 and I3' and indentations i9 formed in the side members 35 in alignment with the openings 29 in the flanges 28 whereby said indentations E8 key the respective flanges together. The end members 33 and 3S are then moved into an upright position whereby the upper edge 4G thereof engages the lower surface or" the panel 4. The ilanges 8 and e and the end portions 26, 2l, 22 and 23 of the side members are then bent whereby the portions adjacent the edges thereof overlie the in struck portions 45 of the end members 38 and 39. During this bending operation the tangs Il and 25 are inserted in the slotsl 45, The tangs are then tightly folded over and pressed against the inner faces of the instruck portions 44 in the end members 33 and t5 to secure the flanges 8 and 9 and end portions 25, 2 i, 22 and 25, and end members 38 and 35 into solid and rigid end structure. This forms a completed carrier as illustrated in Fig. l adapted to carry a plurality of bottles of beverage, the particular carrier illustrated being adapted for sii: bottles. The dimensions of the respective parts of the carrier are such that the bottles substantially engage the flanges 6, around the apertures 5 in the top panel 4, and the ribs Il? and i5 prevent contact of the lower ends of said bottles, the bottom of each bottle resting on the circular embossed portions 56 of the bottom panel 53.

It is believed obvious that I have provided a bottle holder and carrier of rigid structure, capable of holding a plurality of bottles which may be easily inserted in said carriers and particularly adapted to lit in wooden cases and for efcient use in automatic case unlcaders and case loadf ing machines, the teleseoping bail and associated carrier structure functioning with the case unloader machine to hold the carrier and facilitate removal of the bottles. The bail also permits stacking of the carriers when filled with bottles and provides efficient transportation of the carrier and bottles without danger of striking the hand on said bottles.

What l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A, bottle holder and carrier of the character described including, a bottom member, end members on said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper spacer having a pluralit5r of apertures for receiving and substantially engaging bottles, side members on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, end portions on the side members and extending inwardly therefrom with the terminal edges overlying the adjacent edges of the end members, end flanges on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, said end flanges overlying the upper edge of the end members, means on the end portions and end flanges securing the end portions and end flanges to the end members, and a bail engaging the upper spacer for supporting the bottle carrier.

2. A bottle holder and carrier of the character described including, a bottom member, end members on said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper spacer having a plurality of apertures for receiving and substantially engaging bottles, side members on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, interengaging neng-es on the lower edges of the side members and side edges of the bottom member securing said bottom to said side members, end portions on the side members and extending inwardly therefrom with the terminal edges overlying the adjacent edges of the end members, end flanges on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, said end flanges overlying the upper edge of the end members, said end members having spaced slots along the overlying edges of the end flangesl and end portions, means on the end portions and end flanges securing tl e end portions and end flanges to the end members, and a bail engaging the upper spacer for supporting the bottle carrier.

3. A bottle holder and carrier ci the character described including, a bottom member, end members on said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper spacer having a plurality of apertures for receiving and substantially engaging bottles, side members on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, interengaging flanges on the lower edges of the side member-s and side edges of the bottom member securing said bottom to said side members, end portions on the side members and extending inwardly therefrom with the terminal edges of the end members, end flanges on the upper spacer and extendingT downwardly therefrom, said end flanges overlying the upper edge of the end members, said end members having spaced slots alongside the overlying edges of the end flange. and end portions, tangs on the end portions and end flanges extending through the slots in the end members and folded over to secure the end portions and end flanges to the end members, and a bail engaging the upper spacer for supporting the bottle carrier.

fi. A bottle holder and carrier of the character described including, a bottom member, end members on said bottom extending upwardly therefrom, an upper spacer having a plurality of apertures for receiving and substantially engaging bottles, side members on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, inwardly folded flanges on the lower edges of the side members, flanges on the sides of the bottom member engaging the inwardly folded flanges on the side members, means for locking the flange in interengaging position, end portions on the side members and extending inwardly therefrom with the terminal edges overlying the adjacent edges of the end members, end flanges on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, said end flanges overlying the upper edge of the end members, said end members having spaced slots therein, tangs on the end portions and end nanges extending through the slots in the end members and folded over to secure the end portions and end flanges to the end members, and a bail engaging the upper spacer for supporting the bottle carrier.

5. A bottle holder and carrier of the character described including, a bottom member, end members on said bottom and extending upwardly therefrom, an upper spacer having a plurality of apertures for receiving and substantially engaging bottles, side members on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, i wardly folded flanges on the lower edges of the side members, upwardly extending flanges on the sides of the bottom engaging the inwardly folding flanges on the side members, the upper edge of said flanges on the sides of the bottom being turned outwardly and downwardly and engaged between the side members and the flanges on the lower edges thereof to provide interengagement of the flanges on the sides and bottom, said bottom member being in the same plane as the lower edges of the side members, end portions on the side members and extending inwardly therefrom with the terminal edges overlying the adjacent edges of the end members, end flanges on the upper spacer and extending downwardly therefrom, said end flanges overlying the upper edges of the end members, said end members having spaced slots along the overlying edges of the end flanges and end portions, tangs on the end portions and end flanges extending through the slots in the end members and folded over to secure the end portions and end flanges to the end members, and a bail engaging the upper spacer for supporting the bottle carrier.

GRANT M. ACTON.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS llame Date Shaw et a1. Aug.' l2, 194'? Number 

